Friday, January 8, 2010

Charred Remains of Playboy Model Found in Rubbish Bin

The charred remains of an aspiring Playboy model have been discovered in a Miami rubbish bin. Paula Sladewski, 26, was so badly burned that police had to use dental records to identify her.

The LA-based model had been holidaying in the city over New Year period with her boyfriend, Kevin Klym. She was last seen at about 7am on Sunday at the city's Club Space, hours after rowing with 34-year-old Klym.

The couple had attended a Lady Gaga concert on New Year's Eve, before spending the weekend visiting nightclubs and bars. They were seen arguing at Space in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Klym was eventually thrown out of the club. His girlfriend was allowed to stay on even though he claimed she was 'too drunk'. He returned to their Miami Beach hotel, and told police it was the last time he saw Miss Sladewski.

Klym filed a missing person report the same day. A few hours later a member of the public reported a bin on fire in a back street in North Miami and the Playboy model's remains were discovered.

It took until yesterday for a positive identification to be made. Lt. Neal Cuevas, a North Miami police spokesman, said the body was 'burned beyond recognition'.

Police believe she was dead before she was set on fire. The cause of death has yet to be established. Detective confirmed that Klym is a 'person of interest' in the investigation.

In the hours after Miss Sladewski went missing, he printed fliers with her photograph and canvassed the area in an effort to find her, according to his lawyer.

'He's devastated and traumatised,' Marc Beginin told reporters, adding that Klym had 'no involvement whatsoever' with the model's death.Sladewski's family learned she was missing on Monday when Klym called them. Her stepfather, Richard Watkins, told the Miami Herald that she and Klym had a 'volatile' relationship.

He said of the discovery: 'We were praying it wasn't her. It's been real hard. I didn't know this many tears could fall.'

Court records show that domestic violence charges were filed against Ms Sladewski in California last June.

Ms Sladewski had appeared in the video 'Playboy: The ultimate Playmate search'.

The couple, who had been together for two years, split their time between Michigan and Rancho Cucamonga, California. A missing persons report filed after she disappeared lists her occupation as a stripper, his as a labourer.